Houston Scenesters Sound Off On The Fitzgerald's Changeover

Nationally, the music buzz may be all about Kanye's somewhat belated discovery of Twitter, Justin Bieber on CSI and the "Teknoviking 2.0," but this week all anyone in Houston seems to be talking about is the impending Fitzgerald's takeover by Free Press Summer Fest partners Omar Afra and Jagi Katial. A few choice comments from Rocks Off's post earlier this week:

Kin Kade: PARTY AT MY HOUSE 2 BLOCKS AWAY!!!!

RadioZero: Lotta memories in that building...here's to many more!

Nathan: I love this. Not like, but love. I would hump this news, I love it so much.

Easy there, Nathan. But it is pretty exciting news.

Personally, although Rocks Off was hardly a regular - the last time we were there was for Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters on our birthday last year - we certainly never held anything against the place. Judging by that calendar up there, if we hadn't been in seventh grade in November 1987, we would have gone almost every night.

Like a lot of other people, but unlike plenty of others, lately we just didn't particularly care for Fitz's musical bill of fare most nights. We expect that will change, at least somewhat, once Afra and Katial take over the reins. We don't hang out at Mango's every night either, but do stop by there more than Fitz's. We also live a lot closer.

But who knows? Rocks Off deputized our operatives Craig Hlavaty, Jef With One F and Marc Brubaker to poll their friends and acquaintances around town for their opinions on the biggest news to hit the Houston music scene in a long time. We copy-edited for spelling and grammar and whatnot, but otherwise their words are as is.

Rad Rich, KPFT DJ/One-Man Local Punk-Rock Encyclopedia:

If that is the case it can be positive and negative. With the power that he has with the SummerFest it can be a good thing. The problem with Fitz like a lot of venues - namely Walters - is that the community has changed. With the gentrification of the neighborhood there is going to be even more problems with parking, noise complaints and theft.

The new neighbors will not tolerate a loud club in there new pseudo-suburban home. I am happy to have grown up going to shows at Fitz and knowing Sara and all she has done for live music in Houston. Some of the greatest shows in Houston were onstage at Fitz. From Stevie Ray Vaughan to NOFX, a lot of great bands have hit the stage.

You can't run it like Mangos, though, because it's going to be a lot you will have to deal with.

I think Jagi and Oomar taking over at Fitz's will be phenomenal. It'll help with artist development here, and with them evidentlý doing some needed improvements, they'll be able to pull off some great local shows/mid-size tours coming through. While some venues will lose a few shows, it'll add to what Houston has to offer.

Nothing pisses me off more than seeing bands skip Houston. There are some really talented music-industry people here: Louis Messina, the Becker family all the Live Nation people (too many to name) and people like [Warehouse Live GM] Brent Silberstein. What Jagi and Omar are doing here as a whole is amazing. Free Press Summer Fest was awesome, and they're really getting plugged into the scene.

What I mean by plugged into the industry here... no one else had the balls to pull off the FPSF. So who can be critical of these guys? I didn't see anyone else paying large amounts of money to bring the Flaming Lips in. So shit, let them take a chance.

If people feel that they alienated by them, there's tons of venues to play here. And besides, bar sales are what seriously help promoters/operators. Concentrating on kids' shows would be a huge mistake in my opinion, so you've got to have a nice mix.

I have always liked the building. It has been misguided for a little while, but I think it's really great they are taking it over. Houston was missing a room that size that has a good vibe. Its going to be great for the music scene.

I really haven't been there too often in the last five years and haven't played there in forever. I am looking forward to see it come back.